Clergy and Staff

The Most Rev’d David Edwards was born and educated in Shropshire, England. He studied at Loughborough University and Homerton College Cambridge and worked as a high school history teacher prior to completing diplomas in Religious and Evangelism Studies followed by a Master of Arts in Applied Theology at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Both prior to and following his ordination in 1995, Bishop Edwards served in ministry in the Chelmsford Diocese in England, including as Bishop’s Advisor in Evangelism and in the Parish of High Ongar. He moved to New Brunswick in 1998 to be Principal of Taylor College of Evangelism. He has also served in parishes in Saint John, as Parish Development Officer for the Diocese of Fredericton and as Vice-Chair of Safe Harbour Transitional Youth Services in Saint John.

David was elected coadjutor bishop May 10, 2014 and, subsequently, installed as the tenth Bishop of Fredericton September 20.  He was elected Metropolitan of the Ecclesiatical Province of Canada (Dioceses of Montreal, Quebec, Fredericton, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, Central Newfoundland and Western Newfoundland) in June of 2020 and assumed that role on 01 August 2020.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Wycliffe College (University of Toronto) in May 2015 and now serves on the College’s Board of Trustees. He also serves on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada, as Liaison Bishop to Mission to Seafarers Canada.

David enjoys reading, walking and has been a life-time supporter of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (the Wolves). David was married to Janet until her death in 2018.  He married Debbie (Collicott) in early 2020.

Geoffrey Hall has been Dean of Fredericton since September 2014. As a priest of the Diocese of Fredericton, he is the appointed priest at Christ Church Cathedral and serves a canonical role in the Diocese outlined in Canon Four s.5 and in the Bishop and Chapter By-Law.

Geoffrey holds a BEd (Major-Secondary Environmental Studies, Minor-General Science) from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton (1986) and was admitted to the degree of Master of Divinity (MDiv) at Atlantic School of Theology (1990). In the Diocese he has served in the parishes of St. Phillip’s, Moncton, Central Kings, St. Paul, the Tobique, Grand Bay, Ketepec, as Archdeacon of St. Andrews (2001-2003). Most recently he was Diocesan Archdeacon and Executive Assistant to Bishop Claude Miller (2003-2014).

Originally from Woodstock NB, Geoffrey is married to Kelley and feels called particularly to ministries of Christian proclamation and faith development. He enjoys music and the casual study of things technological, especially that which enables and enhances communication. When not attending to the duties of ministry, spending time with family (two grandchildren!), experimenting with some of what is possible with computer-based technology and the internet and making a bit of wine all keep him more than occupied.

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Debbie grew up in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, where she still makes her home with Phillip, her husband of 45+ years. They have two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren, who are a tremendous source of joy.

She is a life-long Anglican, with, as she describes, “a well rounded Ecumenical background.” Drawing on her rural roots, she leads workshops and retreats with humour and a down to earth sense of the sacred. Debbie was ordained as a Vocational Deacon on 01 February 2009. She completed training in Spiritual Direction with the Haden Institute in conjunction with Mount Carmel Spiritual Center in Niagara Falls in 2014.

Debbie has always been involved with her church community through groups and activities from teaching Sunday School to serving on Vestry to being a Layreader and then being called to Ordained Ministry, which she feels is an ongoing learning and awakening experience. She is the Cathedral Hospital Visitors Coordinator, the Diocesan Representative for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer and is also a member of the Diocesan Spiritual Development Team.

Isabel is by no means new to Christ Church Cathedral. Originally from the UK, she was ordained deacon in the Diocese of Western Newfoundland in July 2019. Accompanied by her husband Nathan, who was ordained priest in August of the same year, they jointly served the Parish of Isle aux Morts, encompassing Margaree and FoxRoose. That time was viewed by Isabel as a miraculous gift, having spent a lifetime serving in various capacities as a lay person. Notably, her professional journey encompassed roles as a Public Health Nurse in Newfoundland, a labor and delivery nurse in Fredericton, and with the Victorian Order of Nurses. Isabel pursued theological studies with Nathan for a span of two years at St. John’s College in Nottingham, UK.

With over three decades as a member of the Cathedral community, Isabel has cultivated an extensive involvement. She is a longtime member of the Mothers’ Union and has served three terms as a member of Bishop and Chapter. She has chaired committees vital to Missions, Christian Education, and Spiritual Growth. Her dedication was pivotal in the organization and inception of the Cathedral Health Ministry. Isabel served as Cathedral Parish Nurse from 2005 to 2015.

The trajectory of Isabel’s life took an unforeseen turn with Nathan’s untimely death, leading her back to Fredericton. The couple had been blessed with three children and six grandchildren. Isabel enjoys painting watercolors and indulges in reading. Thankful for the proximity of her cherished family and dear friends, in faith she recognizes the ongoing call to serve as a deacon—a testament to the surprising ways in which God’s plans unfold.

J. Thomas D. Gonder, born in Cayuga, Ontario, exhibited musical gifts at an extremely early age. He spent most of his life in London, Ontario, his family having relocated there in 1981. Immediately becoming involved in the musical life of St. Paul’s Cathedral, he spent many years there as a chorister, Organ Scholar, Assistant Organist, and Organist and Master of the Choristers. Thomas quickly rose to the forefront of the Canadian Organ scene as one of its brightest young performers shortly after his public debut at the age of 15 under the tutelage of D. Mervyn Games. His teachers, mentors and greatest influences also include David Palmer, Ian Sadler, William McArton, Catherine Crozier, Simon Preston, Gerald Bales, Naji Hakim and David Briggs.

Thomas joined the Cathedral Staff in January of 2020 and quickly and enthusiastically joined the wider Fredericton community. A lover of nature and a self-professed bird watcher, he is enjoying some of what makes life along the River St. John so unique.

Kirsten is passionate about creating positive change through community collaboration and inclusiveness. She holds a B.A. from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an LL.B. from the University of New Brunswick. She spent 15 years working as a consultant for a variety of non-profit organizations on health promotion initiatives, communications and event planning, and has volunteered with a number of youth-focused community groups.

Born in Ontario, Kirsten has lived in five provinces and her strongest roots are in Newfoundland, where most of her extended family lives. She and her husband Brad have lived in Fredericton since 2002 and have two daughters: Claire and Charlotte.

Kirsten has grown in faith as part of the Cathedral’s church family: through worship, as a member of the Communications Committee, a Belize mission team member, and volunteer for programs and events. As Office Administrator, she also sits on the Finance and Administration Committee. She feels blessed to be a part of the Cathedral’s staff, helping to connect the community for God’s purposes.

Born in Illinois but raised in Littleton, Colorado, Kurt has lived in Fredericton since 2006.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College (1997—major in Mathematics, minor in African Studies) and an MEd from the Institute for Humane Education in Surry, Maine (2011).

Kurt considers himself an educator at heart, and has spent the last 20 years working as a teacher in diverse contexts and at various levels.  Kurt’s own spiritual journey includes formative periods among his Jesuit teachers and mentors in high school, with monastic friends during university, and alongside members of L’Arche communities in both Canada and the United States, and with various teachers of Celtic Christianity.

A lover of music, dogs, poetry and soccer (the real football!), Kurt lives in downtown Fredericton with his wife Catherine (an occupational therapist) and daughter Rachel.

Kurt says he is honoured and blessed to be part of the Staff Team as Director of Christian Formation, serving God and the dynamic Cathedral congregation. In July 2023, he was also selected to fill the part-time position of Director of Youth Adult Formation for the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton – working with teens and young adults in their faith journeys.

Originally born in PEI, Darin moved to Fredericton in the early ’70s and met the love of his life, Heather. They have two children, Connor and Kiana.

He has a background in maintenance and security, and looks forward to many years working with the Cathedral staff.

Professionally, Jason is an Army Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces in his 27th year of service. He belongs to the Royal Canadian Regiment which has a historical relationship with the Cathedral. Currently he works in downtown Fredericton at the Carleton Street Armouries as the Regular Force Adjutant attached to the Royal New Brunswick Regiment.

He holds a Bachelor of Military Arts and Sciences Degree from the Royal Military College at Kingston Ontario and a Diploma in Theology from Thorneloe University. He has also completed numerous theological courses with Wycliffe College as part of the Master of Theological Studies, due to changes in military educational funding and free time he has put the degree on hold. As an Infantry Soldier and Officer he has deployed to the former Yugoslavia, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Latvia with domestic operations to the Quebec Ice Storm, the Swiss Air disaster, and local emergencies.

Jason is married to Susan and together they have three children, Gabe, Nate, and Ivy. Jason came to the Anglican tradition in 2013 and has an ecumenical background within other Christian traditions. Jason began as Verger on 01 July 2019.

His role with the military has seen some increased demands combined with additional family commitments has seen the role of Verger take on an increasingly shared role with Hank Williams, whom Jason affectionately refers to as the Verger Emeritus. He is grateful for Hank’s willingness to share this role. Should anyone be interested in joining them in this shared role, they are encouraged to speak with Jason.